Explanation: Is that a spaceship or a cloud? Although it may seem like an alien mothership, it's actually a impressive thunderstorm cloud called a supercell. Such colossal storm systems center on mesocyclones -- rotating updrafts that can span several kilometers and deliver torrential rain and high winds including tornadoes. Jagged sculptured clouds adorn the supercell's edge, while wind swept dust and rain dominate the center. A tree waits patiently in the foreground. The above supercell cloud was photographed in 2010 July west of Glasgow, Montana, USA, caused minor damage, and lasted several hours before moving on.

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami: thunderstorm - atmosfernye yavleniya - atmosfernyi front Publikacii so slovami: thunderstorm - atmosfernye yavleniya - atmosfernyi front
Sm. takzhe: Almaznaya pyl' i glaz na nebe STIV: siyayushaya reka nad Franciei Stolby sveta nad Vnutrennei Mongoliei Yuvyaskulya na nebe Snezhnaya burya 1938 goda v Verhnem Michigane "STIV" i Mlechnyi Put' peresekayutsya nad sel'skoi dorogoi Svechenie neba nad Franciei Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >>